Blog - The Purbottar

02 Apr

Over 8.85 lakh EVM units allocated across poll-bound states ahead of Assembly elections

Sonakshi SarkarAssam

The Election Commission of India (ECI) has completed the first stage of randomisation of Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs) for the upcoming Assembly elections in five states, including Assam, along with bye-elections in six other states. Officials said the process was carried out using the EVM Management System (EMS) and was done in the presence of representatives from recognised political parties. According to the Commission, the randomisation process is being followed in two stages to ensure fairness and transparency in the use of voting machines. In the first stage, EVMs are randomly allocated from district warehouses to different Assembly constituencies. This…

02 Apr

Priyanka Gandhi Vadra targets government, highlights price rise and jobs crisis in poll push

Sonakshi SarkarAssam

Congress leader Rahul Gandhi is set to visit Assam on Thursday for a one-day campaign tour ahead of the Assembly elections, with rallies planned in Bokajan and Titabor. According to party leaders, Rahul Gandhi will leave Delhi in the morning and land at Dimapur Airport. From there, he will travel by helicopter to Bokajan in Karbi Anglong district, where he is scheduled to address a public rally. Later in the day, he will head to Titabor in Jorhat district to interact with voters in Upper Assam before returning to Delhi. The visit comes days after Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge and…

02 Apr

Fresh Arrests Expose Assam as Transit Route for Foreign Mercenaries to Myanmar

riya EditorAssam

Recent arrests have uncovered that foreign nationals are using Assam as a transit point to access Myanmar, where they engage in training rebel groups, raising significant security issues in the Northeast. An American citizen and six Ukrainians were detained after returning from Myanmar, admitting to training insurgents like the Kachin Independent Army (KIA) in drone warfare. Although several Northeastern states require special permits for foreign entry, Assam is not subject to such restrictions, making it a convenient access route. The individuals reportedly arrived at Guwahati's Lokapriya Gopinath Bordoloi International Airport, circumventing travel to permit-required states like Mizoram, then traveled by…

02 Apr

Campaign Tensions Rise in Jalukbari Constituency; Indian National Congress Blames Bharatiya Janata Party for Assault

riya EditorNorth East

With the assembly elections approaching, pre-poll violence in Assam has intensified. The Congress party has accused the BJP of attacking its members while they campaigned for candidate Bidisha Neog in the Maligaon-Pandu area of Guwahati, part of the Jalukbari Assembly constituency, on Wednesday evening. Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma is the BJP candidate for this seat. The Assam Pradesh Congress Committee (APCC) stated that during an election rally, BJP supporters obstructed their event and assaulted Congress workers, leading to multiple injuries. The injured were treated at a local hospital, and various vehicles were damaged. The APCC condemned the violence and…

02 Apr

No Evidence of Foul Play in Zubeen Garg Case, Probe Concludes: Singapore Authorities

riya EditorAssam

The Singapore Police Force (SPF) has confirmed that investigations into the death of singer Zubeen Garg in Singapore on September 19, 2025, have concluded, and there is no evidence of foul play. In accordance with the Singapore Coroners Act 2010, the SPF investigated the case thoroughly and examined available evidence and recorded statements from all relevant witnesses, a statement issued by the SPF's Public Affairs Department stated. "SPF’s investigations established that Zubeen Garg was on a yacht trip in the waters off Lazarus Island. He had initially worn a life jacket while swimming but later removed it and returned to…

01 Apr

Hyatt appoints Vikas Chawla to lead India growth push, adds 5,000 rooms to pipeline

Business BureauBusiness

Hyatt Hotels Corporation has appointed Vikas Chawla as President – India & Southwest Asia, marking a key leadership move as the company accelerates expansion in one of its fastest-growing markets. The newly created role, effective April 1, 2026, signals Hyatt’s intent to deepen its footprint across India and the broader region. Chawla will report to David Udell and will oversee strategy, growth and performance. With over 30 years of global experience, he is expected to drive Hyatt’s brand-led expansion and strengthen its position among premium travellers. “The scale of opportunity in India is immense,” Udell said, highlighting the need for…

01 Apr

AESL signs MoU with Indian Army, offers scholarships to families

Business BureauBusiness

Aakash Educational Services Limited (AESL), a leading test preparatory services provider, has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Indian Army to extend educational support and welfare benefits to serving personnel, veterans, and their families. The agreement, signed by Colonel, Ceremonial & Welfare, Indian Army, and Dr Yash Pal, Chief Academic & Business Head, Delhi-NCR, AESL, aims to provide nationwide scholarships and special provisions for Army students enrolling at AESL centres across India. Under the MoU, AESL will offer full fee waivers—except registration—for wards of personnel who died in service, 100% tuition waivers for wards of gallantry awardees and…

01 Apr

Indian National Congress Files Complaint with Election Commission of India Against Sonitpur SP Over Attack on Naduar Candidate

Paromita EditorAssam

The Congress has filed a complaint with the Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) against Sonitpur SP Barun Purkayastha over attack on its Naduar candidate Sunil Kumar Chetry.The Opposition party has accused the SP ofwilfully failing to prevent the brutal assault on Chetry.In a letter to the CEC, Assam Pradesh Congress Committee (APCC) president Gaurav Gogoi has sought appropriate directions from the Election Commission to the Assam Police for strict compliance with the Model Code of Conduct and prevent recurrence of such incidents.Chetry, a former president of the All Assam Gorkha Students' Union, was attacked by a group that the Congress alleged comprised…

01 Apr

Tata Salt emerges most pure in nationwide lab test, strengthens market leadership

Business BureauBusiness

Tata Salt has reinforced its leadership in India’s iodized salt segment after emerging as the highest in purity among 100 brands tested in an independent laboratory study conducted in 2023. The nationwide evaluation, based on an Independent Claim Test Study, positions Tata Salt as a benchmark for purity and authenticity across the country. A pioneer since 1983, Tata Salt said the latest validation reflects its continued focus on rigorous quality checks and adherence to stringent internal and regulatory standards. The brand emphasized its commitment to delivering refined, high-quality iodized salt, strengthening its position as a trusted household name. Deepika Bhan,…

01 Apr

India pushes outcomes-based financing at global summit, Jayant Chaudhary highlights skilling focus

Business BureauBusiness

India reinforced its commitment to outcome-driven development financing at the Outcomes Finance Alliance (OFA) Summit 2026 in Cape Town, with Minister of State (Independent Charge) for Skill Development and Entrepreneurship and MoS Education Jayant Chaudhary underscoring the need for measurable impact in skilling and human capital investments. Speaking at the March 25–27 summit, Chaudhary participated in a high-level plenary on unlocking public-private funding, alongside representatives from South Africa, Switzerland, and financial institutions. He emphasised aligning public, private, and philanthropic capital to deliver tangible outcomes in education, livelihoods, and workforce development. “The real challenge is ensuring investments translate into measurable outcomes…